Joan M. Williams, 71, Dickinson, N.D., died Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at her home. Joan’s Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m., Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, Dickinson with Fr. Jim Braaten as the celebrant. Visitation will be on Monday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Ladbury Funeral Service with a rosary and vigil at 7 p.m., with Deacon Bob Zent presiding.
Joan Michelle Drazich was born December 14, 1937 in Great Falls, Mont., the daughter of Michael and Val (Dotseth) Drazich. She was raised in Fairfield, Hamilton, Kalispell, and Great Falls, Mont., and Altus, Okla. as her father moved around for different jobs as a civil engineer for the Bureau of Reclamation. She considered Great Falls her home.
She graduated from Central Catholic High School in Great Falls in 1956. She graduated from Montana State University in Missoula, Mont. in 1960 with an English degree. She taught high school English for four years in Stanford, Mont. and Opportunity, Wash.
Joan married Dr. Pat Williams on July 18, 1964 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Great Falls. They lived in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and Miles City, Mont. before coming to Dickinson in 1968. Joan spent Saturday mornings acting as secretary and was the bookkeeper for Pat’s veterinary practice.
Joan worked at St. Wenceslaus Catholic School as a librarian from 1984 to the present. She greatly enjoyed her work with the students and staff. She was always an avid reader and was particularly fond of a good mystery. Joan enjoyed gardening, handiwork, genealogy, and driving around the country with Pat. She never wanted to miss coffee with her dear friends Rose Mary and Mary at McDonald’s.
Joan was a loving mother, wife, sister and friend and will always be remembered in the hearts of her surviving family; her husband, Pat; her five children, Reta (David) Stein, Moorhead, Minn., Dennis (Jamie) Williams, Henderson, Nev., Gwen (Patrick) Finnegan, Baraboo, Wis., Dawn (Brian) French, Maple Grove, Minn., and Kevin (Erin) Williams, Elk River, Minn.; 12 grandchildren: Ben, Sam and Beth Stein, Sinjin and Karch Williams, Emily and Jack Finnegan, Sawyer and Spencer French, Mallory, Carly and James Williams; her sister, Karen van Swearingen, Scappoose, Ore.; and her brother, Michael Drazich, San Francisco, Calif. She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Val Drazich and an infant son, Terrance.
